Below you will find details about the Bob-a-loo program along with descriptions of the 3 program sections. You can also view examples of the downloadable pages available in Section 1 and see how they can be put to use. For the example we are using the Letter C.
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An explanation of the program’s sections.
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A teaching guide for the program.
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An example of the printable materials, using the Letter C.
Printable Teaching Guide
Our Teaching Guide is available as a PDF in our Google Drive.
Printable Materials
The printable materials are available in the Bob-a-loo Google Drive. The link below takes you to the folders and files in the Google Drive. You will also find links to specific materials next to the examples below.
Introduction to the Learning Sections
Understanding Sections
Bob-a-loo literacy curriculum is broken down into 3 sections. If your busy learners are at the beginning of letter recognition you may choose to start with Section 1: See, Say and Move. If they are more advanced, you may choose to start with Section 2 or 3.
Section 1
Letter Recognition with Alfie
See, Say & Move
The first section is an introduction to letters. It is called See, Say and Move.
See the letter. Say the letter. Say the animal and do the Animal Move.
There are several activity pages for each letter to mix and match throughout the week to bolster early educational curriculum.
Section 2
Phonics
Do & Go Sound Search
This section involves “doing” an activity and “going” outside to explore whenever possible, while practicing the letter sound. This is the introduction to phonics.
Section 3
Site Words
Read & Romp
This section is an introduction to site words. It involves reading stories, introducing more phonics activities, letter combinations like “Ch” and site words.
Read a sentence or a complete story and romp (play energetically) along.
Begin with Alfie’s Letter C Video
After introducing the letter C to your class, enjoy the Alfie’s Letter C video!
Kids should stand and move to all the videos. Remember, research shows kids retain information better when they are up and moving. March in place, dance or follow along to the moves.
See, Say & Move
Section 1: Letter Recognition
"C" Cat Cheetah Cub Adventure Starts Here
Letter Recognition
Present the Moving Through the Alphabet posters
The posters are typically best received when shown in color on an 8.5″ x 11 piece of paper. Laminating is recommended for durability.
With each letter poster there is an animal and an action to do.
We’ll keep adding letters and movements as we go through the alphabet. With 26 letters, you’ll have 26 moves. This is a great way to start the day!
The Letter
C
The Animal
Cat–cheetah cat
The Move
Cheetah stalk and charge. Get down low on all fours and imagine silently and slowly moving through the tall African grass. Hold still, and then, stand and charge as fast as you can. This move is called a Cheetah Charge and it is loads of fun to do again and again. If space is limited, you can pretend to run super-fast in place. Pick your knees up high and swing your arms.
I Can Pages
“I Can” pages are the companion activity pages that go along with Moving Through the Alphabet posters. Building confidence is an important tool to help navigate life and it begins in childhood. The “I Can” pages reinforce a child’s ability to accomplish a letter and a move. Print Letter C page for every child to color, trace the letters, and do the move. Say the words, “I CAN run like that cat!” See the letter. Color it.
Group Time
Pretend play–Act it Out pages. Have children color all the letter Cs on the page and then color the cheetah cat mask. The children can incorporate the mask using their imaginations as they pretend to be cheetahs.
Thought Starters
How would it feel to be a cheetah? How would you move? Can you move fast? Can you move slow? Who would you make friends with? What would you do for fun? What sounds would you make?
Using their imaginations children can move around like cheetahs making friends, sounds, and gestures while they experience the joy that comes from pretend play.
Discussion
How are all cats alike? Include both physical similarities and behavioral similarities.
Animal Letter Wall Cards
Print out the Animal Letter Wall Card for letter C. If possible, print it in color and laminate it for durability. We also sell these cards on the website to make things easier.
Personal Letter Wall Cards
Print the children’s matching letter C for them to trace, color and do the movement. The movement for letter C is running in place. The word is cat. The children glue their letter C card on their own personal Animal Letter Wall.
Moving on to Section 2
Section 2 Coming December 2024
Do & Go Sound Search
Section 2: Phonics
Letter C Activity Tree
This activity page can be done in the classroom or at home. It’s a great way to involve parents with their children’s literacy learning. Print out the page for each child. Explain, “Every time you do an activity, you get to color the branch”. Start with any branch. Read the activity, for example “5 minutes of climbing”. This activity does not have to take place on equipment.
It’s tons of fun to pretend to climb like a cat or a chipmunk–fast, slow, big, small, high, low right in the room. Turn up the music and emphasize the word with the movement. After 5 minutes of pretend (or actual) climbing have children color the branch.
Adventures in the Great Big Outside World
Sing the song and do the moves. This is a wonderful song to use when teaching the butterfly life cycle. Ask children to circle their hands around eyes like binoculars. Look high and low, far and close. Follow along with the moves and add some of your own.
Cat Callers. Two at a Time or Group Play.
Print a Cat Caller page for every child. Read the page. Practice the /c/ sound and the word cat. Have children glue the page onto construction paper. Cut out the cats. Follow the directions on the page. Be sure to have children say the word “cat” after every species. Example, Lion cat, Leopard cat. All these animals are in the cat family.
Go, go! Oh, no! Game
High frequency site words. Print out the Go, go! Oh, no! game cards. It’s ideal if you can print these in color and even laminate them. We also sell these pages on the website to make things easier. This game is played like red light, green light, and introduces children to common site words. When a child holds up the Go, go! card the kids run and dance. When a child holds up the Oh, no! skunk card everyone freezes.
Outside Moving to the Letter Sounds
Caterpillar Crawl. Do a caterpillar crawl, a bird call, catch a ball. Put moves the words to reinforce their meaning.